Authorities told the Edmonton Journal that the single-engine planes were traveling parallel from Carstairs to Red Deer Lake, Alberta, when they crashed about 10 kilometers northwest of Bashaw. One of the airplanes landed in a field near Township Road 424 while the second managed to land safely, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A 47-year-old man who was not identified suffered what was described as a severe leg injury by the Edmonton Journal and was transported by ambulance to the University of Alberta Hospital. The second pilot was treated at the scene with minor injuries.

According to the Experimental Aircraft Association, there are about 33,000 amateur and homebuilt aircraft are licensed by Federal Aviation Administration. The EAA states on its website that the "experimental" designation for the homebuilt aircrafts have been in existence for more than five decades.

Experimental aircraft defines those that are used for non-commercial, recreational purposes such as education or personal use, according to the EAA website. According to FAA regulations, the aircraft is eligible to be registered for amateur-built status if it is 51-percent built by an amateur.

In December, 2012, produce supplier William Stern, his wife Jennifer, and daughter Katelyn were killed when his homebuilt aircraft crashed near San Diego, according to USA Today. The Stern Produce Co. executive was flying a 2005 experimental Lancair IV-P Turbine at the time of the crash.

USA Today states that experimental is sort of a catch-all category that includes planes such as ultralights and restored vintage aircrafts.

Roger Whittier, who built his own airplane in Phoenix, told USA Today in 2013 that there is little reason why an amateur-built airplane should be less safe than any other aircraft.